Denton, TX Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential setback
- 100 feet minimum
- Noise limit
- 60 dBA at property line
- MR/SC floor area cap
- 55,000 sq ft per lot
- Screening required
- Opaque wall, fence, or landscaping
- Max fine
- $2,000/day (Sec. 1-12)
Summary
Denton's zoning code allows warehouse and modular data centers only in specific commercial and industrial districts, requiring a 100-foot residential setback, opaque screening, and a formal noise study before construction begins.
On-site electrical equipment, and any associated outdoor storage area shall be setback no less than one-hundred (100) feet from an adjacent residential zoning district or an existing residential use, measured from the property line. ... Data center operations, including on-site electrical equipment, shall not cause any noise measuring more than sixty (60) dba on the A-weighting utilizing properly calibrated sound measuring instrumentation measured at the property line, or shall not cause an increase in the ambient noise level in the area more than 3 dba.
Full Breakdown
The Denton Development Code treats data centers as an industrial use, permitted by-right in some districts and requiring a Specific Use Permit in others (DDC § 5.3.6, Industrial Uses. Data Center, Warehouse and Data Center, Modular standards). In the MR and SC districts, floor area is capped at 55,000 square feet per lot. On-site electrical equipment and outdoor storage must sit at least 100 feet from any adjacent residential zoning district or use and be opaquely screened with masonry, wall, or evergreen landscaping. Applicants must also submit an environmental noise and vibration assessment showing operations won't exceed 60 dBA at the property line or raise ambient noise more than 3 dBA.
Violations & Fines
Violating Denton's zoning or Development Code provisions carries up to a $2,000 fine under the city's general penalty clause (Sec. 1-12), with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a data center be built anywhere in Denton?
Does Denton limit data center noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
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